Tape drive



H. F. BEAN TAPE DRIVE May 25, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 16, 1962 H. F. BEAN May 25, 1965 TAPE DRIVE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 16, 1962 United States Patent 3,185,403 TAPE DRIVE Harley F. Bean, Dallas, Tex., assignor to Sperry Rand Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 16, 1962, Ser. No. 174,373 5 Claims. (11. 242-673) This invention relates to the utilization and control of delicate tapes and ribbons and more particularly to the metered delivery of a magnetic ink tape to a utilization device.

Tapes or ribbons of primarily dielectric materials are required in various types of systems. In the application of magnetic inks in magnetic ink character recognition systems (MICR), the magnetic ink is carried on one face of an electrically insulating tape. In order to provide clear and crisp impressions of the desired characters inmagnetic ink transferred onto a document it is necessary that the tape be handled with utmost care. In the systems involving the delivery of typing ribbons and the like to a printing site the ribbon is passed through rollers or the like. Because of the character of the ribbon and the carbon there can be ignored, to large extent, any requirement for extreme care in the handling thereof. However, if the tape face carrying magnetic ink is smeared or mechanically worked to any substantial degree, the resultant characters are imperfect. Automatic reading of imperfect characters by data processing systems is difficult and involves a high rate of rejects. In systemsfor encoding various documents the operation generally is such that a plurality of characters is simultaneously impressed upon the document. In a usual case a word length is of the order of one and one-half to two inches. It is, therefore, required that the tape be delivered to the printing device stepwise where each step is at least of length equal to the word length. Fresh sections of tape unmarred by handling must be presented to the printing location in order for each new word properly to be imprinted on a document. The tape, therefore, is moved from a supply roll to the imprinting or encoding loca tion in abrupt steps and thus is subject to substantial acceleration. This must be accomplished while preventing mechanical working of the ink face of the tape.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a tape delivery system which provides for a stepwise delivery of a delicate tape without working the ink face thereof. More particularly, there is provided a delivery system in which. an electrostatic force between the back of the ribbon and a non-conductive carrier is employed for imparting a moving force to the ribbon itself. In one form of the invention there is provided a holder for a supply roll of tape. A belt, supported for travel over an elongated path by a pair of guides, ispositioned adjacent to the perimeter of the supply roll. A means is provided for guiding the tape leadingfrom the supply roll along a predetermined path, at least a portion of which is parallel and closely adjacent to the surface of the belt. The electrostaticlattractive force between the back of the ribbon and the surface of the belt causes ad herence therebetween over the length in which they lie parallel to one another. The belt when driven carries the tape with it, moving the same from the supply roll to a utilization or encoding station. j

In accordancewith a further "aspect of the present in-. ventioii, thereis' provided a system for movement of delicatedielectric tapes which comprises means for guid- 3,185,403 Patented May 25, 1965 carrier over a substantial area of the carrier and tape for coupling one to the other. The carrier is driven to move the tape along with the carrier under the frictional force between the tape and carrier developed by adherence therebetween.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a combination of a magnetic ink tape supply system and an imprinter which is operable successively to imprint words of a predetermined length at spaced time intervals on documents delivered to the imprinter. A roll of tape is positioned on a holder adjacent to the imprinter. Guide means are provided for routing the tape from the supply roll through the imprinter and to a take-up reel. A drive is provided for maintaining the tape leading to the take-up reel under predetermined tensile force. A belt is mounted on guides for travel in an elongated path. The guides are mountedfor movement of the belt toward and away from the periphery of the tape roll. Resilient means are provided for urgingthe surface of the belt along one portion of its course toward the tape roll to maintain in parallel relation for a substantial portion of the path thereof the outer surface of the belt and the back of the tape as it is delivered from the tape roll. Drive means are coupled to the imprinter and to the belt for intermittently and alternately driving the same to move tape from the roll to the take-up reel stepwise under frictional forces developed by adherence of the back of the tape to the surface of the belt.

For a more complete understanding of the presentinvention and for further objects and advantages thereof, reference may now be had to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 illustrates one form of an encoder;

FIGURE 2 is a top view of a tape transport showing a portion of the imprinter unit of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a somewhat enlarged front elevation view of the transport of FIGURE 2 shown partly in sec: tion;

FIGURE 4 is a view taken along lines 44 of FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a view taken along lines 5--5 of FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a simplified embodiment of the invention;

' and FIGURE 7 illustrates a ratchet drive.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, an encoder unit is illustrated which is housed in a desk-like structure} The encoder unit 10 includes a keyboard 11 such as ordinarily found in an adding machine. In this form, a document, such as a check 13, is inserted into a slot 10a where it travels to an encoding or imprinting Zone 10b. Actuation of selected keys from the keyboard 11 serves to impress on the document at location 1011 one or more sets of numbers indicative of a bank transit number, for example, or a customer account number or the amount for which a given document is drawn. Following such encoding, the document is then driven into a ing atape along a predeterminedpath including alength stacking bin 10p. The present invention is directed primarily to the handling of magnetic ink tape employed to print characters on documents in such clear and distinct form, as to permit ready identification thereof by i ease roe trol of the keyboard 11 to transfer magnetic ink from a tape 12 to a document 13.

In accordance with the present invention the tape 12 is delivered from a tape storage system 14 in metered amounts and at predetermined times. Tape delivery is synchronized with the operation of the printing unit. In encoding machines such as these employed in data processing operations for handling of banking documents, the word length in a given printing operation occupies a space of the order of two inches in length. Since the printing operations are intermittent, it is necessary to deliver the tape to the printing site stepwise and in synchronism with the printing operation. The tape 12 ordinarily employed is characterized by iron particles suspended in a wax. Such magnetic ink must not be smeared or mechanically worked. Presentation of an unsmeared section of ribbon to the printing site has not heretofore been readily accomplished.

In accordance with the present invention, a magnetic tape is driven by applying a frictional driving force developed between the tape and a carrier over a substantial tape length. By use of certain materials, an electrostatic force is developed between tape and carrier, causing them to adhere to each other, the iron particles being electrically charged and thereby attracted to the surface of a carrier. The force developed per unit area is relatively low but with substantial area of contact between the tape and the carrier a force sufiicient to drive the tape is developed without the application of excessive forces at any localized zone on the tape.

The tape delivery mechanism in one form is illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3. A roll of tape 12a is mounted on a plate 22. The tape roll is fitted over a pivot or center hub 23. Plate 22 is mounted on a frame plate 24. The tape lies on the plate 22. In a preferred embodiment, plates 22 and 24 are horizontally disposed and are parallel to the top of unit 10, FIGURE 1. The tape roll 12a is free to turn on the hub 23.

The drive element employed for moving the tape is a belt 25. Belt 25 is mounted on a drive Wheel 27 and an idler wheel 29. The drive wheel 27 is mounted on and keyed to a shaft 28. An arm 3%) is pivoted as to be freely rotatable relative to the axis of shaft 28. The idler 29 is mounted on a shaft 31 at the end of the arm 39. A spring 33 is anchored at one end to point 34 on the arm 30. The other end of spring 33 is anchored in a bracket 35 which is secured to plate 24. The spring 33 tends to rotate the arm 30 clockwise around shaft 23 so that the surface of the belt 25 is brought to rest upon contact with the outer layer of the tape on roll 12a. The belt 25 in a preferred embodiment is of rubber, having a flat outer surface. It is of thickness equal to the thickness of the tape from roll 12a.

The tape 12, as it issues from roll 12a, passes along a path which is parallel to the belt 25 as it extends from idler 29 to the drive pulley 27. The tape 12 leaves the drive wheel 27, then passes through a guide 36, over a roller 37, and thence to a set of guides which define the path of the tape through the printing site. In a preferred form, the guide system includes stainless steel guides which serve to position the tape 12 vertically and horizontally. They serve to maintain the tape in the desired path without sagging or twisting.

The tape 12 follows a return path from the printing site passing over a guide pulley 38 and thence over a pulley 39. Pulley 39 is mounted at the end of an arm 40 which is pivoted on shaft 41. The tape 12 then passes onto a take-up reel 42 mounted above the plate 22. The arm 40 is resiliently biased for clockwise rotation by a spring 43 which is anchored at the end of a fixed bracket 44 and at point 45 on the arm 40. Spring 43 biases arm 40 continuously to apply a slight tensile force to the tape 12 in the direction of the arrow 12b to maintain the ribbon taut over that portion of the path thereof leading from the drive wheel 27.

Take-up reel 42, FIGURE 2, is mounted on a shaft 59. The shaft is provided with a pair of lugs on the upper end thereof to drive the take-up reel. The reel 42 has a lower plate 42a and an upper plate 42b. The lower plate is provided with a hub-like extension 420 which fits over the upper end of the shaft 50. The lugs on the upper end of the shaft fit into a slot in the hub of the reel 42 to drive the same. The upper plate 42b is provided with a hub 42d which serves as a handle therefor. The disk 42b is provided with a central aperture slidably to receive the upper extension of the hub 420. Disk 42b is latched to the disk 42a but is disengageable therefrom in order to permit threading the lead end of a tape onto the hub section 422 of the reel 42. Normally if the handle or hub 42d is lifted upwardly, the disks 42a and 42b both will be removed from shaft 50 as a single unit. However, a latching mechanism operable by a push button 42f is provided so that when the button 42f is depressed and the hub 42 is lifted upwardly, only the disk 42b is removed.

The shaft 50 is driven from a motor 51. The motor 51 drives a belt 52 intermittently, as will hereinafter be explained. Belt 51 is coupled to a large pulley 53 mounted on the shaft 50.

The drive wheel 27 is actuated by a linkage leading from the printing system and includes the link 55 which actuates a crank arm 56 in the direction of arrow 56a when the print bars in the printing zone 1% start a printing stroke. Crank arm 56 moves in the direction of arrow 531) as the print bars return to rest. The crank arm 56 is keyed to shaft 57. A second crank arm 58 also is keyed to shaft 57 to move with the crank arm 56. A link '59 couples the crank arm 58 to a crank arm 60. The arm 60 is coupled to shaft 28 by a suitable ratchet mechanism shown in FIGURE 7. The pulley 27 has a hub section 27a which is a pinion gear. Pulley 27 is rotatable on shaft 28. Crank arm 60 includes a bracket tia on which a dog 60b is mounted. The dog 6% is urged into contact with the gear 27a by a spring 600. Thus, as the crank arm 69 moves clockwise as viewed in FIGURE 2, the dog iib engages the gear 27a to rotate the pulley 27 clockwise. The linkages are so adjusted in dimension and as to the amount of rotation imparted thereto to move the belt 25 in steps at least equal to the word length in the printing device in zone 10. In one embodiment of the system the crank linkage system served to rotate the drive wheel 27 about 280 per step. The diameter of the wheel 27 was such that the belt 25 was moved about 1 /4". By this means there was delivered to the printing site a fresh length of tape for impression on a given document of a clear unambiguous set of characters.

It will be noted that the shaft 50 passes through and is mounted on the base plate 24. Suitable bracket structures on the base plate 24 secure the same to theprinting mechanism. As best shown in FIGURE 3, the plate 22 is mounted on spacers 22a and thus is positioned above and parallel to the surface of the plate 24. The cross section of the belt 25 is of T-configuration with the outer surface 25a, FIGURE 1, planar. The belt 25 is of the same width as the tape 12 and substantially completely shields the rim of the idler wheel 29.

FIGURE 4 illustrates the mounting of the guide pulleys 37 and 38 on a bracket to support them in proper relation for removing tape from the tape roll 12a and for delivering tape via pulley 38 onto the take-up reel 42 mounted above plate 22.

The roller 38 is mounted as to be above roller 37. The elevations of rollers 37 and 38 above the plate 24 correspond with the levels of the tape roll 12a and the take-up reel 42, respectively. In FIGURE 5 a control element is illustrated. The guide mounted adjacent the roller 38 of FIGURE 2 is shown mounted on the bracket 65. The guide 75 is provided with side walls to form a path for the tape 12. The front wall as viewed in FIG- URE 5 has a slot 76 extending transversely thereof. A control switch 77 is mounted on bracket 65 with a control arm 78 mounted thereon. Arm 78 extends upwardly from switch 77 and is in registration with the slot 76. Arm 78 normally is biased away from guide 75 and tends to urge the tape 12 outward through the slot 76. So long as the tape is taut within the guide 75, the arm 78 will be restrained in the slot 76. However, if the tape 12 should break, then the arm 78 will rotate outwardly, actuatingran alarm circuit coupled to the switch 77. The tape path is characterized, in accordance with the present invention, by at least one of the foregoing alarm and control elements including the switch 77 and its feeler arm 78. It has been found that if a tape should break and if a suitable control and alarm function is not provided, the encoder may continue to operate without the printing. However, repeated actuations of the drive wheel 27 will continue to spool the tape out from the roll 12a as it adheres to the belt 25. The switch 77 may be in a master control circuit to render the system inoperative when the tape supply is broken. Alternatively, it may be employed to control a signal lamp or alarm when the tape supply is not reliable.

It will be noted that a pin 66, FIGURES 2 and 3, is provided to limit the clockwise rotation of the arm 48 as controlled by spring 44. When the motor 51 drives the take-up reel 42 to the point that the arm 40 rotates away from the stop 66, a microswitch 67 opens to de-energize the motor 51. For aiding this control function, a feeler arm 68 extends from switch 67 into engagement with the edge of the arm 40. The motor 51 is energized from a circuit 69 by way of the switch 67. While the circuit has not been completed, the X terminals should be understood as being electrically common terminals as are the Y-termi nals. Thus, motor 51 is energized only when the circuit through the microswitch 67 is conductive. Switch'67 is closed only when the arm is rotated in a clockwise direction upon delivery of tape 12 from the printing zone.

FIGURE 6 illustrates a simplified embodiment of the invention in which the tape 12 is driven over guide rollers 80 and 81. Tape 12 follows a path which is closely adjacent to the surface of the belt 82. Belt 82 is mounted on rollers 83 and 84. Where the tape 12 is adjacent to the surface of the belt 82 as it extends between the guiderollers, the tape will be attracted to the surface of the belt. The belt 82 may then be driven either intermittently or continously as the requirements of an associated machine dictate to move the tape 12 without the application of any substantial force .to the ink face thereof. The frictional force developed between the belt 82 and the tape 12 by reason of the attraction therebetween is sufficient to move the tape 12 from a supply roll to a utilization site. Thus, the invention in this aspect is not limited to an intermittently operated machine but may find more general application to systems wherein the tape must be handled with the care above noted.

In the embodiment of the invention above described, the reels for handling tape were oriented with their axes vertical. Thus, the tape rolls, both supply and take up, lie horizontally. In other embodiments the reels are mounted on horizontal axes. Tape driven therefrom in accordance with the present invention provided satisfactory operation.

The invention, therefore, provides for a drive system for a tape in which the belt 82 is mounted for travel in an elongated path between the spaced guides 83 and 84.

The rollers 80 andSl position the tape along a path which is adjacent and is substantially parallel to the surface of the belt in the region between the guides 83 and 84 for providing a contact by electrostatic attraction between the adjacent surfaces of the belt and the tape. Means are then provided for driving the belt by rotation of either of the guides 83 or 84. By this means there is provided a method of driving a tapein which a low level force is developed between a working face of the tape and a carrier,

by means of electrostatic attraction. The force is applied to one face only and is of low level per unit area. The total area of contact is such that a force applied to the carrier will move the tape. Since the holding force is applied to one side of the tape only, the ink face is free from damage.

Having described the invention in connection with certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that further modifications may now suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and it is intended to cover such modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A system for transporting delicate magnetic ink tape stepwise from a supply roll to a document printing means, which comprises:

(a) a supply roll holder adapted to receive said supply roll,

(b) a take-up reel mounted on a shaft passing through said holder,

(c) normally de-energized drive means for said take-up reel,

((1) a drive pulley mounted on a second shaft to face the supply roll on said holder,

(e) means supporting an idler pulley for movement along an arc intersecting the supply roll on said holder at a distance from said drive pulley,

(f) an insulating belt encircling the pulleys,

(g) resilient means for urging said idler pulley toward said holder for contact by said belt with said roll,

(it) guide means for directing said tape along the face of said belt and thence through said printing means 7 to said take-up reel,

(i) means synchronized with said printing means for intermittently actuating said drive pulley to advance said tape in steps,

(1') resiliently biased follower means engaging said tape between said printing means and said takeup reel for maintaining said tape under tension, and

(k) means responsive to movement of said follower means for selectively energizing and de-energizing said drive means.

2. A system for transporting delicate magnetic ink tape stepwire from a supply roll to a document printing means which comprises:

(a) a holder plate having a first shaft extending therethrough and adapted to receive and position a tape supply roll, a

(b) a take-up reel mounted on said shaft spaced from said plate,

(0) a normally de-energized drive for said first shaft,

(d) a drive pulley mounted on a second shaft to face the supply roll on said plate,

(e) an arm rotationally mounted on said second shaft supporting an idler pulley at the end thereof,

(f) a belt encircling the pulleys,

(g) resilient means for urging said idler pulley toward said first shaft for contact by said belt with said supply roll,

(it) guide means for directing said tape along a length of said belt and thence through said printing means to said take-up reel,

(i) means for intermittently rotating said second shaft to move said belt and pull said tape from said supply roll in steps,

(j) a resiliently biased follower engaging said tape between said printing means and said take-up reel for maintaining said tape under tension, and (k) a switch responsive to movement of said follower to one position upon movement of tape from said printing means to energize said drive and to a second position in response to collection of tape by said 7 take-up reel to de-energize said drive.

3. A system for moving delicate magnetic ink tape stepwise from a supply roll to'a document printing means,

which comprises:

(a) a supply roll holder for receiving said roll,

(b) a tape take-up means,

(c) drive means for said take-up means to collect tape issuing from said printing means,

(d) a drive pulley in the same plane as said roll,

(2) means supporting an idler pulley for movement along an are having its center at the axis of said drive pulley,

(f) a belt encircling the pulleys,

(g) resilient means for urging said idler pulley toward said supply roll holder for contact by said belt with said roll,

(h) guide means for directing said tape along a substantial straight line segment of said belt for electrostatic adherence therebetween and for directing said tape through said printing means to said take-up means,

(i) means for intermittently actuating said drive pulley to apply tensile force uniformly along said segment for advancing said tape in steps,

(j) means including a second idler pulley resiliently maintained in contact with said tape between said printing means and said take-up means for maintaining said tape under tension, and

(k) a switch responsive to movement of said second idler pulley to one position upon movement of tape from said printing means to energize said drive means and to a second position in response to collection of tape by said take-up means to de-energize said drive means.

4. A system for transporting delicate magnetic ink tape stepwise from a supply roll to a document printing means, which comprises:

(a) a supply roll holder for receiving said roll,

(b) a take-up reel mounted on the same axis as said holder,

() normally de-energized drive means connected to said take-up reel for rotating the same to wind tape thereon issuing from said printing means,

(d) a shaft having a ratchet and a drive pulley secured thereto mounted with its axis parallel to the axis of said holder with said pulley in the same plane as the supply roll on said holder,

(e) an arm pivotally mounted on said shaft and carrying an idler pulley spaced from said drive pulley, (f) a flat-faced belt of T-section encircling the pulleys, (g) resilient means for urging said idler pulley along an arcuate path toward the axis of said holder for contact by said belt with said roll,

(/1) guide means for leading said tape over said drive pulley and through said printing means and thence to said take-up reel,

(1') means operable in response to actuation of said printing means for actuating said ratchet to advance said tape in steps,

(j) a spring-biased arm and a second idler pulley maintained in contact with said tape between said printing means and said take-up reel for maintaining said tape under tension, and

(k) a switch responsive to movement of said arm to control energization of said normally de-energized drive means.

5. A system for transporting delicate magnetic ink tape stepwise from a roll to a document printing means, which comprises:

(a) means including a fiat plate having a hub thereon to hold said roll,

(b) a take-up reel mounted on and adjacent said hub on a first shaft extending through said hub,

(c) normally de-energized drive means connected to said shaft on the side of said plate opposite said hub for rotating said take-up reel to Wind tape thereon issuing from said printing means,

((1) a second shaft having a ratchet drive and a driven pulley mounted for rotation thereon with its axis parallel to said first shaft,

(e) an arm pivotally mounted on said second shaft and carrying an idler pulley spaced from said driven pulley,

(f) a flat-faced belt of T-section encircling the pulleys,

(g) resilient means for urging said arm toward said roll for contact by said belt with said roll,

(/1) guide means for leading said tape over said driven pulley and to said printing means and thence to said take-up reel,

(1') means responsive to actuation of said printing means for actuating said ratchet drive to advance said tape in steps,

(1') an idler means resiliently biased into contact with said tape between said printing means and said takeup reel for maintaining said tape under tension, and

(k) means responsive to movement of said idler means to control energization of said drive means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,482,354 1/24 Dausmann 226-94 X 1,916,109 6/33 Hall et al. 226-94 X 2,658,398 11/53 Masterson 242-5514 X 2,891,736 6/59 Blaes 242-5512 2,941,737 6/60 Jones 242-675 FOREIGN PATENTS 445,034 5/27 Germany. 860,272 2/61 Great Britain.

MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner.

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Examiner. 

1. A SYSTEM FOR TRANSPORTING DELICATE MAGNETIC INK TAPE STEPWISE FROM A SUPPLY ROLL TO A DOCUMENT PRINTING MEANS, WHICH COMPRISES: (A) A SUPPLY ROLL HOLDER ADAPTED TO RECEIVE SAID SUPPLY ROLL, (B) A TAKE-UP REEL MOUNTED ON A SHAFT PASSING THROUGH SAID HOLDER, (C) NORMALLY DE-ENERGIZED DRIVE MEANS FOR SAID TAKE-UP REEL, (D) A DRIVE PULLEY MOUNTED ON A SECOND SHAFT TO FACE THE SUPPLY ROLL ON SAID HOLDER, (E) MEANS SUPPORTING AN IDLER PULLEY FOR MOVEMENT ALONG AN ARC INTERSECTING THE SUPPLY ROLL ON SAID HOLDER AT A DISTANCE FROM SAID DRIVE PULLEY, (F) AN INSULATING BELT ENCIRCLING THE PULLEYS, (G) RESILIENT MEANS FOR URGING SAID IDLER PULLEY TOWARD SAID HOLDER FOR CONTACT BY SAID BELT WITH SAID ROLL, (H) GUIDE MEANS FOR DIRECTING SAID TAPE ALONG THE FACE OF SAID BELT AND THENCE THROUGH SAID PRINTING MEANS TO SAID TAKE-UP REEL, (I) MEANS SYNCHRONIZED WITH SAID PRINTING MEANS FOR INTERMITTENTLY ACTUATING SAID DRIVE PULLEY TO ADVANCE SAID TAPE IN STEPS, (J) RESILIENTLY BIASED FOLLER MEANS ENGAGING SAID TAPE BETWEEN SAID PRINTING MEANS AND SAID TAPE-UP REEL FOR MAINTAINING SAID TAPE UNDER TENSION, AND (K) MEANS RESPONSIVE TO MOVEMENT OF SAID FOLLOWER MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY ENERGIZING AND DE-ENERGIZING SAID DRIVE MEANS. 